Social surveys community tapestry: Understanding the distinctiveness and dynamism of townships

Lebogang Shilakoe and Sandile Zwane from Social Surveys will present this seminar in the Faces of the City series.

This talk addresses three key issues in the South African planning environment, particularly relating to areas classified as townships/peri-urban areas:

Are all townships the same?

How can planning be done in a way that generalises plans to ward and municipal level but still maintains and addresses the specificity of each community's distinct needs and priorities?

Are townships static? How can we track changes in the township landscape?

The Community Tapestry is a spatially represented segmentation of communities based on their socio-economic standing, level of infrastructure and the extent of their diversity. This provides a refined understanding of the types of communities found in South Africa and the varied needs of their assorted populations. With the right application, this can enable the appropriate allocation of financial resources for greater impact.